19 March 2012

Yes, this is a letter asking for your help. But before anything else, let me introduce myself first.

I am Gerson M. Abesamis, and I am a teacher. I’ve been serving my alma mater–Philippine Science High School–for three years now, teaching web design, photography, and multimedia courses, as well as spearheading the school’s media projects: official videos and advertisements, training materials, and the redesign of the school website to name a few. I love my job; I find it immeasurably enjoyable and fulfilling despite all the responsibilities and challenges that go with it.

This coming September, I plan on starting one of the biggest undertakings of all educators: graduate school. I want to specialize in educational media and technology; a field which is underrated and under-developed in the Philippines. It integrates various disciplines such as design, information technology, and media & cultural studies, while still being grounded on the sole purpose of education. Being confident and optimistic, I applied to the top universities in the United States: Stanford University (MA Learning, Design and Technology), and Harvard University (EdM Technology, Innovation, and Education). Surprisingly, both offered admission into their one-year Masters programs–a great achievement in itself! These institutions have the most stringent and rigorous selection processes for prospective students; they constantly look for excellent academic records, above-average GRE test scores, an accomplished portfolio and resume, and recommendations from superiors. But I know that these schools accepted me not because of a strong application; they accepted me because they believed in my desire to affect change. Ultimately, it is that power to change lives what we educators try to achieve, every time we step into the classroom.

Needless to say, graduate degrees are expensive, and financial aid packages for international students are very limited, non-existent even. I was lucky though that these schools employ a need-blind selection process; meaning proof of financial ability to fund the degree isn’t necessary to get in. That’s why I’m writing this letter, asking for your help. Although I plan to exhaust all efforts by working as a student assistant and by asking help from my family to help cover living costs (averaging $20,000 or Php850,000), the tuition fees for the one-year program cost $40,000 or Php1.7M; an amount I am hoping to raise through donations and partial scholarships.

Despite the steep expenses, I believe it is worth it. More than any other reason, I’m pursuing my graduate study abroad in the earnest hope that I will be able to equip myself with both innovative ways to make technology available and the credibility to be able to make people understand how powerful education can be. I should know–my 15 year education was funded by taxes on a country still in need of a better education system. It is my place to teach here, and I am committed to come back and serve my school and country after studying. It is my dream to create accessible, innovative, and engaging tools for teaching so I can reach a bigger number of students, and in doing so, contribute more to the Filipino people.

The PSHS Foundation, Inc. has agreed to take on my cause and will help me solicit for donations. If you are able to support me and my vision in a financial way, I would be most grateful. You may call 924-0655 for details on how to deposit your donation.

You can also help further by sending me contact information of people/organizations who you think are sympathetic to my vision. Please don’t hesitate to ask about my study plans and research interests. My contact details are listed below. Thank you very much for your help.

Sincerely,

Gerson M. Abesamis

gerson.abesamis@gmail.com

0917-3272277

“Busong” is the Palawanon concept of fate and the story of Punay, a woman afflicted with mysterious wounds preventing her from stepping on the earth. Her brother carries her while they search for a healer across the forests, seas and mountains of Palawan. They meet people who help them along the way; a woman searching for her husband, a fisherman who has lost his boat, and a shaman’s apprentice who has just returned from the city.

An official selection at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight, Busong received rave reviews in France and in 20+ international film festivals. It won Best Director at Cinelamaya 7, the FIPRESCI International Federation of Film Critics’ Prize at the Eurasia International Film Festival, and the Emile Cantillon Tomorrow’s Cinema Award at the Brussels International Festival of Independent Films.

Alessandra de Rossi stars as Punay, with Clifford Banagale (Aris), Dax Alejandro (Lulong), Rodrigo Santikan (Angkadang) and Bonivie Budao(Ninita). Busong was directed by Auraeus Solito (PSHS ’86) and executive produced by Jong de Castro (PSHS ’87).

The 2012 PisayCup Golf Tournament will be held at the Ayala Greenfield Golf & Leisure Club in Calamba, Laguna on March 21. An estimated 80 participants are expected to sign up and enjoy the picturesque greens of AGGLC. The tournament will be played in system 36 format with sequential tee-off starting at 7:30 a.m. Lunch and awarding ceremonies will immediately follow at the clubhouse. In the roster, a mix of PSHS alumni, friends and family, and returnees from last year’s PisayCup held in Sta Elena Golf Club.

Up for grabs are trophies for the Lowest Gross Overall Champion and Lowest Net Score Overall Champion, won last year by Chot Reyes and Noel Prudente respectively. Trophies will also be awarded to the champions and runners-up for Classes A, B and C.

Tickets are priced at P3,500 which includes the green fee, golf cart (sharing), caddy, lunch, and raffle entry.

This tournament is organized by Pisay ‘87 Foundation. Proceeds from the event will go to the rehabilitation of a Chemistry Laboratory in Philippine Science High School.

For tickets and inquiries, call Carl Villos at 0919-9104188; Ryan Azarcon at 0917-3275346; or email pisaycup2012@gmail.com.

As I write this, I am preparing to go to the art galleries that I have asked my students to visit for an art appreciation project that consists of a four-page critique of an artwork of their choice. Through the years, the students have always generated very impressive and insightful work for this assignment as visiting the galleries affords them the opportunity to “get to know” the artworks in a more intimate way than I, their teacher, can provide them in class. Without this authentic experience, students have little to say about many artworks that has not already been written in books and magazines or stated by their teachers.

As a humanities teacher at the Philippine Science High School for the last 30(?) years, I can confidently say that my expertise and experience in the world of art has allowed me to transform the country’s young scientists into art enthusiasts, if not artists themselves. Despite this, I cannot help asking myself these questions: Is my own knowledge of the artworks based on the kind of authentic experience I want my students to have? Have I seen all those Matisses, van Goghs, and Picassos in their original forms myself? What added value does my discussion of artworks that I have never seen “in the flesh” bring to my students’ authentic appreciation of them? Sadly, I have not seen the originals of many of the artworks that I have been teaching about all these years.

Thus, I find myself writing to you now. I wish you could help me realize my life’s dream of traveling to Europe and seeing for myself the famed artworks that I discuss in class. Being able to do so would naturally be a thrilling experience for me that will surely enrich the authenticity of my teaching of art at the PSHS. To maximize the rare experience, I plan to design the trip as a documentation and resource- gathering project that will result in a treasure trove of teaching/learning materials for the school’s art and humanities courses. With your assistance, I hope to be able to participate as well in the School Art Magazine’s “nancywalkup” tour of Paris, Florence, and Rome for art educators in 2012.

The Philippine Science High School Foundation, Inc., has very graciously offered its support of my project by coordinating a solicitation campaign to raise the funds necessary to cover my travelling expenses and to fulfill my educational and research goals for the trip to Europe, which I have tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2012. Thus, should you deem my project worthy of your material support, I would very much appreciate your coursing your “Edcip’s Wish to Travel” donation through:

Isabelo P. Africa,
President
PSHS Foundation, Inc.

BPI C/A SM North Branch
4431-0000-54
PSHS Foundation, Inc.

US Based Donations
Online through the Ayala
@ www. af-usa.org

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,

Ed Cipriano

P.S. If the solicitation campaign turns out successful and more than enough funds is raised, the school’s other art teacher will also be invited to join the trip. For details, please contact pshsfoundation@yahoo.com.

The Philippine delegation

The 5th International Earth Science Olympiad was held last September 5 to 15 in Modena, Italy. The team was composed of four mentor chaperons, including Dr. Helen Caintic, and four student participants; Williard Jose from PSHS Main Campus, Christopher Jan Sandicho from PSHS – Bicol Region Campus, Charles Tin from St. Jude Catholic School and John Allan Olesco from Aquinas University, Legaspi. This competition was for secondary students not older than 18 years and covered major topics of the earth sciences, geology, geophysics, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy and environmental science.

Williard Jose from PSHS-MC wins gold medal

The Philippines received a bronze medal (Aquinas University), 2 silver medals (PSHS, Bicol Region and St. Jude Catholic School) and a gold medal (PSHS Main Campus). In the five years of this competition, this is the first time all four members of the team received medals and the first time the Philippines is awarded a gold medal. The last top award we received from this competition was a silver medal for Lance Co Ting Keh during the 3rd IESO held in Taiwan.

ARUGA ART EXHIBIT

The Philippine Science High School Foundation Inc. in cooperation with Power Plant Mall, through its commitment of nurturing excellence for students is embarking on an exhibit to fund opportunities for scholars and faculty. Aruga is a significant art exhibit happening on 21^st until the 30^th of this month at the North Court of Power Plant Mall at Rockwell Center. The event encompasses works from our well-loved National Artist Napoleon Abueva and two noted artists Azor Pazcoguin and Joven Ignacio.

For this exhibit, sculptures of Abueva’s will focus on his pastoral subjects from the sixties to seventies. Abueva was a highly productive and prolific artist during his youth and gained widespread critical acclaim at the young age of 46 when he was honored as National Artist. Abueva has the distinction as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”. He is the only Boholano given accolade as National Artist of the Philippines in the field of Visual Arts and was the youngest recipient of the title to date. Many of his works are now considered collector’s item essential in our country’s art history. He also remains a major influence to many young artists. Being proficient in both academic figurative style and contemporary abstract, he has made the most of almost all kinds of materials from wood to stone, steel, bronze, brass, iron, ceramic, and concrete. Abueva has helped shape the local sculpture scene in the Philippines. Abueva’s series from the 60’s to 70’s gives admirers a rare opportunity to view some of the artist’s early works, including his most important pieces carefully set aside for his family.

Painter Azor Pazcoguin has joined over 20 exhibits, including one in New York. Azor’s artistic inclination was developed and nurtured by his exposure to the Mabini painters in his father’s art gallery in Ermita. Constantly exploring various media, the mixture of colors, as well as color tones, he evolved from painting simple subjects such as fruits to painting landscapes with pastoral scenes. He has now moved on to painting human figures. For this exhibit, we revisit some of his famous fruit paintings that exude brilliant colors and dramatic lighting. The human figures he prefers to paint are those that depict people doing seemingly mundane things such as farmers or a group of vendors selling vegetables, contemporary subjects that likewise belong to rural scenes. For this exhibit, Pazcoguin’s paintings are stronger than ever as maturity in mastering his medium shows on a very refined level.

Joven Ignacio’s new series, aptly called “Abaniko”, focuses on the weave patterns of hand-held fans that originate from the Philippines. His new series of paintings are more geometric, steady and rhythmic; a style quite contrary to the flowing movement in his flora and fauna series for which he is famous for. His unique talent of painting without subjects opens many possibilities for his creativity. His “Abanikos” highlight various weaves that represent ethnic groups and traditions from different parts of the country. The artworks have restraint but nonetheless exhibiting the same fluidity of his medium from previous series. Layering several transparent fans on top of each other using watercolor gives age-old items, a modern look. His new work is a study in proportion, symmetry, construction, but nonetheless showing softness, dramatic lighting, and texture. The new collection of paintings is a step reflecting all his disciplines. Artist, conservationist, and architect, “Abaniko” is the next chapter in the journey for this much admired artist.

Philippine Science High School’s Godparent Program supports the neediest among the scholars whose families cannot support their day-to-day needs for food, transportation, and school requirements. “ARUGA” is a tradition of caring and nurturing within PSHS. For more information, please call: PSHS Foundation Inc. c/o Linda Cordova, Executive Director or Liza Claveria, Administrative Associate Tel. 632-9240655; Mobile. 0922-8558420, Email:  pshsfi@yahoo.com or c/o Tess Carpio-Bacungan, Board Secretary, Mobile. 0917-8800568, Email: tesscbacungan@yahoo.com.

Tickets available at the Foundation Office. P300.00/ticket.
Beneficiary: PSHS 3rd floor Auditorium.

Inilunsad ng Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System noong ika-6 ng Setyembre, 2010 sa pakikipagtulungan   ng PSHS National Alumni Association at PSHS Foundation, Inc. ang “50@50″, isang fundraising activity na naglalayong makalikom ng P50M sa ika-50 anibersaryo ng PSHS sa 2014.

Sinimulan ang palatuntunan, na ginanap sa Advanced Science and Technology Building (ASTB) Hall ng PSHS-Main Campus, sa isang doxology at sa pag-awit ng Lupang Hinirang, na pinamunuan ng Himig Agham, at agad namang sinundan  ng panimulang bati mula sa direktor ng paaralan na si Dr. Helen E. Caintic.

Naghandog naman ng isang inspirational message si Gng. Maria Rosario O. Montejo, ang maybahay ni G. Mario G. Montejo, kalihim ng Department of Science and Technology (DOST), para sa paglulunsad ng ’50@50′. Siya abg ipinadalang kinatawan ng kalihim ng DOST. Nagbigay rin ng kani-kaniyang pananalita sina Dr. Filma G. Brawner, Executive Director ng PSHSS, G. Isabelo P. Africa, Batch 71-A, Pangulo ng PSHS Foundation, Inc., Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea ng Batch 1969, Chairman ng PSHS Foundation, Inc., at Jocelyn Sanchez-Mendoza ng Batch 1978, Presidente ng PSHS National Alumni Association.

Malugod na tinanggap nina Dr. Caintic at Dr. Brawner ang nasabing proyekto lalo na’t ang pondong malilikom sa 50@50 ay gagamitin sa pag-uupgrade at pagsasaayos ng iba’t ibang pasilidades sa mga campus ng PSHSS sa buong bansa upang lalong mapabuti ang performance ng mga tinaguriang iskolar ng bayan.

Isa namang paraan ng pagtanaw ng utang na loob ang turing ni Gng. Mendoza sa proyekto na ipinagdiinan sa kanyang mensaheng nararapat lamang bigyang-pagkilala ang institusyong naging bahagi ng paghubog ng kinabukasan ng mga tulad niyang alumni. Isang audio-visual presentation naman tungkol sa pagpupunyagi ng paaralan sa mga nagdaang taon ang ipinakita sa mga dumalo.

Ipinamalas din sa palatuntunan ang 50@50 logo kung saan P5,000.00 ang iginawad sa lumikha nitong si Froilan Antonio C. Bacuñgan na ipinagkaloob rin sa PSHS Foundation bilang pakikiisa sa proyekto. nagwakas ang okasyon sa isang musical interlude kabilang ang mga miyembro ng Himig Agham. Si Dr. Custer C. Deocaris ng batch 1989, na isa ring DOST Balik-Scientist, ang nagsilbing guro ng palatuntunan nang araw na iyon.

Nagsimula ang SPSHS sa isang inuupahang gusali sa Elliptical Road, Quezon City na naglalayong magkaloob ng isang libreng edukasyong pansekundarya sa mga batang may angking galing sa agham at matematika alinsunod sa R.A. 3661 na nilagdaan ni Pangulong Diosdado Macapagal noong 1963.

Nakapagpatayo na nag PSHSS ng 11 campus sa buong bansa mula noong 1998 sa tulong ng Republic Act 8496 na nilagdaan ni Pangulong Fidel Ramos at mula pa noo’y kilala na ang paaralan sa paghubog sa mga iskolar na ‘di lamang nangunguna sa agham at matematika kundi pati sa larangan ng sining at kultura, humanidades, negosyo, pulitika at relihiyon.

]]> http://www.pshsfi.com/2011/02/08/5050-inilunsad-ng-pshs/feed/ 0